A view of Delhi High Court gate, in New Delhi . File
| Photo Credit: SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA
The Delhi High Court has granted three more months to a trial court to conclude the proceedings in a case relating to the alleged leak of the 2017 Haryana Civil Services (Judicial) preliminary examination paper.
It was earlier directed that the listening to within the matter be taken up every day.
Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma mentioned the court would admire if the principal district and classes choose, earlier than whom the trial is happening, posts the matter on a day-to-day foundation and grants adjournments to the events just for unavoidable causes.
The excessive court had, in January, requested the trial court to expedite the proceedings within the case and take it up every day.
Pursuant to the final order, the trial court choose submitted a letter to the High Court, stating that the case file is voluminous as seven chargesheets have been filed towards the accused who’re going through trial.
There are 19 accused and 85 witnesses within the case, which is on the stage of defence proof, the trial court choose mentioned within the letter and sought at the very least six months for the disposal of the matter.
Special Public Prosecutor Charanjit Singh Bakshi and advocate Amit Sahni, representing the Union Territory of Chandigarh, submitted that regardless of the excessive court’s instructions, the matter was not taken up every day and urged the court to direct the trial court to achieve this.
The High Court, in its order, mentioned the trial Court choose’s communication signifies that after the final order, the case has moved forward.
“This court considers that some more time may be granted in view of the communication of the principal district and sessions judge. However, this court would appreciate if the principal district and sessions judge posts the matter on a day-to-day basis.
“Adjournments could also be granted just for some unavoidable causes. Hence, an additional three months’ time is granted, excluding the summer time holidays. The trial court is directed to get rid of the matter inside the above mentioned timeframe,” the High Court mentioned and listed the matter for additional listening to on September 9.
The High Court was listening to a plea moved by former registrar (recruitment) of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Balwinder Kumar Sharma, who has challenged the trial court’s order dismissing his utility for the summoning of paperwork for the cross-examination of a witness.
The High Court had mentioned it’s a severe matter and requested the events to cooperate for an expeditious trial earlier than the decrease court.
An First Investigation Report(FIR) within the matter involving the paper leak was lodged on a criticism from the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 2017.
Sharma was suspended by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 2017, after the paper leak.
According to the prosecution, the query paper was within the custody of Mr. Sharma, the then registrar (recruitment), from the time it was finalised until its dispatch to the examination centre.
It was alleged {that a} co-accused, Sunita, was recognized to be in acquaintance with Sharma and the latter had given a replica of the query paper to her, who handed it on to others in return for cash.
The excessive court beforehand upheld a January 31, 2020 order of a Chandigarh classes court by which fees have been framed towards Sharma for the alleged offences of dishonest, felony breach of belief by a public servant, felony conspiracy and destruction of proof beneath the Indian Penal Code and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
In 2021, the Supreme Court transferred the case to Delhi at Mr. Sharma’s request.